Gangland killings leave 45 dead in Karachi

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   KARACHI: Gunmen killed at least 45 people in Pakistan's largest city after the assassination of a prominent lawmaker set off a cycle of revenge attacks, officials said Tuesday. Dozens of vehicles and shops were set ablaze as security forces struggled to regain control of Karachi.

Schools were closed and most businesses ground to a halt Tuesday in the southern city of 18 million, Pakistan's main commercial hub. While a thriving trading center, Karachi has a history of political, ethnic and religious violence. The latest unrest came after Raza Haider, a provincial lawmaker, was shot dead along with his bodyguard in a mosque while preparing to offer prayers Monday in Nazimabad area.
Haider was a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the political party that runs the city and represents mainly descendants of Urdu-speaking migrants from India who settled in Pakistan when it was created in 1947.
The MQM's main rival is the Awami National Party, a secular nationalist party whose main power center is Pakistan's northwest and whose base is the ethnic Pashtun community living in Karachi.
Within hours of Haider's assassination, gangs torched buildings in Karachi and gunfire erupted in several parts of the city. Many of the dead were killed in targeted, execution-style attacks, authorities said. An investigation had been ordered into who was behind the attacks.
Independent analysts say followers of all political parties in Karachi are heavily involved in criminal activities such as protection rackets and illegal land dealings. In certain neighborhoods, armed men linked to political parties stand guard at checkpoints.
Police officer Hamid Parhiar said that 45 people were killed and 93 wounded, citing data from state-run hospitals in the city.
Sindh provincial government spokesman Jamil Soomro said at least 10 people were arrested, and police and Army Rangers were dispatched throughout the city to impose order. But gunfire could still be heard Tuesday morning, and fires were still being set in some areas.
Schools and colleges in Karachi and other urban centers in the surrounding province were ordered to stay closed by the government Tuesday. There had been threats against Haider's funeral, but it passed off peacefully and Karachi endured a tense calm in the late afternoon.
The stock market was open but trade was dull and attendance thin due to security concerns. The main index ended up only 0.15 percent because, dealers said, the violence dampened investor sentiment. The exchange closed an hour early.
Officials did not say who was to blame for the violence. �It is very sad, and we believe that it is the work of those forces who want to destabilize the elected government,� Soomro said.

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wasi siddiqui Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 April 2005 Location: Angola Status: Offline Points: 327	Post Options Post Reply Quote wasi siddiqui Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Gangland killings leave 45 dead in Karachi Posted: 04 August 2010 at 1:16pm
	KARACHI: Gunmen killed at least 45 people in Pakistan's largest city after the assassination of a prominent lawmaker set off a cycle of revenge attacks, officials said Tuesday. Dozens of vehicles and shops were set ablaze as security forces struggled to regain control of Karachi. Schools were closed and most businesses ground to a halt Tuesday in the southern city of 18 million, Pakistan's main commercial hub. While a thriving trading center, Karachi has a history of political, ethnic and religious violence. The latest unrest came after Raza Haider, a provincial lawmaker, was shot dead along with his bodyguard in a mosque while preparing to offer prayers Monday in Nazimabad area. Haider was a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the political party that runs the city and represents mainly descendants of Urdu-speaking migrants from India who settled in Pakistan when it was created in 1947. The MQM's main rival is the Awami National Party, a secular nationalist party whose main power center is Pakistan's northwest and whose base is the ethnic Pashtun community living in Karachi. Within hours of Haider's assassination, gangs torched buildings in Karachi and gunfire erupted in several parts of the city. Many of the dead were killed in targeted, execution-style attacks, authorities said. An investigation had been ordered into who was behind the attacks. Independent analysts say followers of all political parties in Karachi are heavily involved in criminal activities such as protection rackets and illegal land dealings. In certain neighborhoods, armed men linked to political parties stand guard at checkpoints. Police officer Hamid Parhiar said that 45 people were killed and 93 wounded, citing data from state-run hospitals in the city. Sindh provincial government spokesman Jamil Soomro said at least 10 people were arrested, and police and Army Rangers were dispatched throughout the city to impose order. But gunfire could still be heard Tuesday morning, and fires were still being set in some areas. Schools and colleges in Karachi and other urban centers in the surrounding province were ordered to stay closed by the government Tuesday. There had been threats against Haider's funeral, but it passed off peacefully and Karachi endured a tense calm in the late afternoon. The stock market was open but trade was dull and attendance thin due to security concerns. The main index ended up only 0.15 percent because, dealers said, the violence dampened investor sentiment. The exchange closed an hour early. Officials did not say who was to blame for the violence. �It is very sad, and we believe that it is the work of those forces who want to destabilize the elected government,� Soomro said.